The story of God and humanity is a covenant-story. And the story tells us, and shows us, over and over again, that God always seeks to be in relationship with us. And, admittedly, the story also shows how we always try to wriggle out of the deal. And, yet, God never stops the pursuit.
Lord Jesus, if we have died with you, we will live with you; if we endure, we will reign with you; we pray to you for all the needs and concerns on our minds and hearts, knowing that you always remain faithful. Lord, we pray for the church, that we might do our best to present ourselves to God as one approved by him. (We pray especially for… church leaders… and all the people of […]
And here, in the 17th chapter of Luke, Jesus takes his disciples to a place that is in-between. They aren't in the land of the Samaritans. And they aren't home either. Where are they? They're nowhere. They're everywhere. As much as liminal periods are opportunities for danger, they are also opportunities for growth. Liminal periods are places where we can grow, where we can 'find ourselves,' and where we can orient our lives to shape what the next room we'll inhabit will look like. Where are we going? Where is God taking our lives? When we're beneath the limnus we can take the opportunity to find out. To ask God. To make it happen.
O God, as we pray for the church and the whole world, rekindle in us the gift that is within us already: the grace given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began. Lord, we pray for the church, that we might hold to the standard of sound teaching that we have heard from the prophets and apostles, and guard the good treasure entrusted to us. (We pray especially for… church leaders… and all […]
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! These words have roared in church sanctuaries countless times by countless faithful hymn-singers. Although the hymn isn’t sung often in the Episcopal Church, I remember it fondly from my childhood days as a Methodist. It’s one of those hymns that just ‘takes me back’ to […]
O God, you are our refuge and stronghold, and to you we pray, that we might dwell in your shelter always and forever. Lord, we pray for the church, that we might listen to Moses and the prophets, and that all your faithful people might find refuge under your wings. (We pray especially for… church leaders… and all the people of God.) Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer. We pray, O God, for our […]
(The following is an excerpt from a book I’m working on. Should be finished soon…) There’s a fantastic scene in the third chapter of the Gospel of Luke where we’re introduced to the wild-eyed prophet, John the Baptist. Crowds gathered around him wondered if he was the One who was sent by God to save them and the whole world. John greeted these curious onlookers who were coming to be baptized with these words: You […]
Together, let us make supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings to Jesus, the mediator for all humankind. Let us pray for the church, that all might be saved and come to the knowledge of truth. (We pray especially for… church leaders… and all the people of God.)Lord, in your mercy,Hear our prayer. Let us pray for our community, for our nation, and all in authority, that we might be faithful in a little, and faithful in […]
What’s that they say about ‘best laid plans?’ Months ago I had planned this Sunday as a ‘welcome back’ Sunday where we’d have all the kids in church, and have them come up and get involved in the sermon… There’d be a tear in every mother’s eye, and the fall program year would be kicked off successfully. And then a few weeks ago I checked the Gospel lesson of the day. Ooops. Nothing like telling […]
Imagine going to the store and buying a box of 100 crayons in preparation for your children going back to school. You bring your shopping home, you sling your bag of goods onto the table, and you take out the box of crayons. You open up the box of crayons… and there are only 99 of them. One has gone missing. You were sure that they were all there when you bought them. The crayons […]